PA Dept of Agriculture

Pennsylvania Invests $5.5 Million in Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conservation Grants

The Shapiro Administration announced $5.5 million in conservation grants through the Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins program, with 16 farms receiving $392,119 in Sustainable Agriculture Grants and 6 conservation organizations receiving $5.1 million in Public Private Partnership Grants. Recipients span 11 counties across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed including Adams, Lancaster, York, and others.

PA Ag Secretary Announces $12M in Farm Grants for Fresh Food Financing and Agricultural Innovation

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announces $12 million in available grants for farmers and food businesses: up to $2 million through the Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) and $10 million in Agricultural Innovation Program grants. Applications are open for both programs, with the Ag Innovation grant round closing April 18, 2026. Priority consideration is given to businesses in USDA-designated food deserts and women-, minority-, and veteran-owned enterprises.

$10.2M Preserves 31 Farms, 2,645 Acres of Farmland

The Shapiro Administration invested $10,235,075 to purchase development rights easements on 31 farms spanning 2,645 acres across 20 Pennsylvania counties. The State Agricultural Land Preservation Board approved the easements, protecting the farmland from future residential or commercial development. The farms include crop, livestock, and dairy operations in Berks, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, and other counties.

Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants Awarded Across Pennsylvania

The Shapiro-Davis Administration announced 21 Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants totaling $499,480 for projects supporting urban farmers in 13 Pennsylvania counties. Recipients include Grow Pittsburgh, Landforce, Bible Center Oasis Farm, and other organizations receiving grants ranging from $1,850 to $45,000. Funded projects include greenhouses, roof-top gardens, irrigation systems, cold storage, soil improvement, and tools to expand fresh food access in underserved urban neighborhoods.

Keystone Animal Diagnostic Center Opens at Penn State Beaver

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State University cut the ribbon to open the Keystone Animal Diagnostic Center at Penn State Beaver Campus on April 16, 2026. The $6 million investment, funded by Governor Shapiro's 2024-25 budget, adds a fourth lab to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, expanding capacity to serve western Pennsylvania farmers with faster animal disease diagnoses and reduced transportation costs.